Punjab police apathy forces rape victim to commit suicide

Patiala, Dec 28 (ANI): A rape victim committed suicide in Punjab after the police adopted a lackluster attitude and failed to act on her complaint at an appropriate time.

While the entire country is currently seething with the issue of rape, the incident happened in Badshahpur village of Punjab's Patiala district on Wednesday (December 26) where the girl committed suicide while leaving behind a suicide note blaming the police and the rapists for her predicament.

The girl was allegedly abducted by three men on the night of the festival Diwali in November after which she was gangraped several times and then dumped on the road.

For fourteen days, the local police showed no sign of registering and tried forcing for a settlement between the rapists and the girl's family.

In her suicide note, the girl had mentioned that after the police registered the case, they would repeatedly call her to the police station and humiliate her by asking uncomfortable questions related to her rape.

After the girl committed suicide, the police hastily arrested the rapists and Inspector General (IG) of Patiala Range, Paramjit Singh Gill, promised strict action against the offenders on Thursday.

"Yesterday that girl committed suicide. She mentioned three people in her suicide note. They are Balwinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Tejender Pal Kaur. These are the same people who were involved in the rape case. She held them responsible for her death.

"All three of them have been arrested in the case. Action has taken about one and half months later since the incident after the girl committed suicide. It is a very sensitive matter. The girl is like a daughter to us. I have taken it very seriously," he said.

The IG also added here the incharge of the police station has been sacked for his negligence.

The police have set up a special team under the local Superintendent of Police (SP) and have asked for a detailed report into the matter within a period of seven days. (ANI)